Laproscopy - question about coedine

[natherly]

I had a laproscopy in October of last year (for removal of a large dermoid cyst from my ovary)

Despite my surgeon prescribing me 7 days worth of coedine, the hospital sent me home with only 3.5 days supply (28 x 30mg pills)

I was in too much pain despite the coedine, and had to ration myself down to half doses on day 3 of my recovery so I had some left for the weekend.

I was unable to get the rest of what my surgeon prescribed or additional pain relief via my GP or 111.

I healed up fine from the surgery but am thinking back constantly to how painful it was and how I couldn't get any help when I was in the worst pain of my life.

My question is - have you had a laproscopy, and how much coedine were you sent home with? I am trying to decide if complaining to the hospital is reasonable, or if 3.5 days despite my surgeon saying 7 days - should have been enough.

[Madlegs1]

Check whether the 7 days included some days in hospital?

Otherwise the scrip should have been extended by your PCP.

[natherly in reply to Madlegs1]

I was a day case and went in last - so I was only in the hospital for 2-3 hours after the procedure.

I wish I had checked at the time but I was not capable due to the effect of the general anaesthetic.

I was in an unusual situation with my GP - they had decided to remove me from their register - I received the letter the morning after my operation. I called them on the Friday (day 3) but reception would not even tell a GP I was asking for help.

I don't think they believed I was having an operation, or I was being punished for being a difficult patient.

I am making a complaint about the GP practice - but I would not have had to ask them for help if the hospital had given me what I was prescribed.

[Madlegs1 in reply to natherly]

Crazy!

Good luck.

[cyberbarn]

I would say this isn't uncommon. I have had day surgery on my foot three times. The first time I hadn't realised that I had to arrange medication and they would only send me home with a small amount. That was co-codomol, and I quickly realised that it was not good for me (I was off with the fairies, and my whole digestive system stopped). So the next time I was more prepared. My GP advised that I should ask for naproxen. But the hospital didn't stock it, so again, a scramble to get it from the surgery dispensary.

Third time, I was fully prepared with my own medication arranged through my GP. By then I was also used to the pain of surgery with paracetamol only!

So while it depends on the hospital, it isn't unusual for them to only give you enough medication and for the patient to arrange further medication through the GP surgery. So you have good grounds for the complaint against the GP surgery for leaving you in pain. Not so much for the hospital, you would have to get hold of their policy through the ICB that commissions them. You could ring PALS to ask them how to do that. But it probably isn't worth it.

It is horrible thinking about the pain. I remember thinking about all the things I wanted to do to the duty GP who messed up the prescription leaving me with a whole day without pain medication on the day after surgery. By the time he issued the prescription it was after 6, surgery was closed, local chemist didn't have any naproxen, so my ex husband had to drive around trying to find a chemist that had it. That was a very long hour because pain is exacerbated, made worse, by your emotional state. I was visualising ripping a certain body part off this GP and putting it somewhere rude!

But I knew that staying in that frame of mind wouldn't help. Especially as I was chair of the PPG and was working along side him at the surgery! So I took the naproxen when my ex brought it, and settled down to watch some Friday night comedy to take my mind off it.

So now instead of thinking about at how they didn't help you when you had the worst pain, you can think forward to how you will handle it next time, by taking things into your own hands and making sure you have the right medication before hand. We can beat them at their own game and be in control!

And good luck if you do make a complaint against the GP. If you ring PALS they might help you, but you will first have to do a formal complaint to the practice manager.

[LythamJohn]

The pharmacist should have followed the directions of your surgeon as the pharmacist has little idea why your being prescribed the mediation other than post operative discharge. 3.5 days isn’t enough although sometimes the pharmacist think the GP will be able to prescribe more when they receive your discharge summary, but this rarely happen in time for the patient. So in short I would complain as your complaint might prevent someone else from going through the same experience.